With house builders reporting serious falls in profits and it looking increasingly like house prices are about to nosedive, what effect does everyone think this will have on the highrise developments planned for Brum?

Plans for Arena Central, for example, already seem to have been on hold for years. Since recent reports seem to suggest that it would have a significant residential component, will the end of the house price bubble dash any hopes of us seeing a decent sized tower there? :(

http://money.guardian.co.uk/houseprices/story/0,1456,1529024,00.html
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=personalFinanceNews&storyID=2005-07-18T063714Z_01_NOA823381_RTRUKOC_0_HOUSE-PRICES-RIGHTMOVE.xml

you could be right, although if house prices remain stable there should be plenty of scope for new development.....highrises included

also the city living market is slighty different from the normal suburban market x

Arena Central (City Tower) had the life snuffed out of it ages ago. I find it incredible that so many gullible people still believe it will be built.

I cant believe people were guilable enough to believe it would be built in the first place and then use it as a whip to beat the whole city with :>

I think the end bit of this title doesnt really affect Birmingham at the moment ;) :cheers:

hehe

Come on folks! We do have towers in the pipeline - the one on Broad St, we WILL get some form of tower at Arena Central, Masshouse is on its way, our lovely Rotunda is due an extensive overhaul, John Bright St is nothing to be sniffed at and there are the proposed Tate Tower & Curzon Gateway towers! And it looks like we'll get a couple of decent highrises in Martineau Galleries so all is not lost!

I don't reckon we'll get that fancy assortment by the BT tower, and it is anybody's guess as to what happens at Paradise Circus. And the council had BETTER let the Cube @ Mailbox go through.....

And I heard a little whisper that there could be another couple of decent-sized babies planned for the centre ;)

"And I heard a little whisper that there could be another couple of decent-sized babies planned for the centre "

no one wants decent sized we want HCT size or more

"And I heard a little whisper that there could be another couple of decent-sized babies planned for the centre "

no one wants decent sized we want HCT size or more

Not far off HCT, one of them anyway. And until we get public endorsement from BHX that they don't mind us building high, developers will always be cautious...

as long as a Mr Whitby has a say in matters ......

I wish he would change his redevelopment priorities from Spaghetti Junction and and underground to the skyline and an overground. :bash:

Oh, and a single, world-class library would be nice! :drool:

At least he seems to be barking up the right tree regarding our railway

Why does drooling look like puking :(

See! : :drool:

And until we get public endorsement from BHX that they don't mind us building high, developers will always be cautious...
Is that all that's needed, an agreement with the owners of the airport?!!
I'd have thought the airport, council and developers would all be in each others pockets - progress and development of one can only increase opportunities and revenue for the other, surely?

Mid-rises are the future for Birmingham evidently.

Anything even approaching as tall as 110 metres is a bonus, frankly.

Biosonic, I wouldnt trust little whispers - Look at Arena Central about as secret as Jude Laws affair and look at the pace of construction on that bastard.

P.S Where did you hear these little whispers, and what was whispered ;) :cheers:

Is that all that's needed, an agreement with the owners of the airport?!!
I'd have thought the airport, council and developers would all be in each others pockets - progress and development of one can only increase opportunities and revenue for the other, surely?

It would be nice to have some clarity on the issue - from what I have read in the papers, bits here and there and talking to colleagues, the CAA ruling was usurped by a ruling that it is the discretion of the local airport as to how high buildings are (it makes much more sense than an "above sea-level" rule). Birmingham had a potential problem insofar as BHX is much closer to the city centre than many other airports. HOWEVER, the flight path does not cross the city centre, and from what I understand BHX are fine with tall buildings.

HCT had to downscale because when they were designing, the CAA rule applied but now it doesn't! How peeved are Beetham at this I wonder!! But it doesn't matter - whilst Manchester's is taller, I personally think we got the best Beetham deal - our curvaceous baby is nicer ;)

I think we just need our guidance updating, and a developer to have the balls to say "I want the biggest, right here!"

And there shouldn't be a problem with the council as don't they part-own BHX?

Biosonic, I wouldnt trust little whispers - Look at Arena Central about as secret as Jude Laws affair and look at the pace of construction on that bastard.

P.S Where did you hear these little whispers, and what was whispered ;) :cheers:

I reckon we'll here something on Arena Central fairly soon you know. I was chatting with a colleague last night and they said they've seem some stuff knocking around regarding AC - nothing detailed, but it seems there's a tall building as the focal point. Don't know when it all goes public though.

And these little whispers, well I can't say (as I probably would be shot) but it is a fairly big project and they are working on the final design parameters, and it seems that this includes a couple of highrisers ;)

Oh, and before anyone feels crestfallen, it is NOT Martineau Galleries!

I think as a city we just need to uncork the bottle now and everything will happen as everything seems to be connected. Arena Central and Paradise Circus are kind of linked (as is Broad St tower). Paradise is linked to the library. Martineau may lead to the demise of the Odeon, and Odeon is next to New St and would surely form part of the New St plans? And a new New St would hopefully see us get rid of Stephenson Tower and even that brown thing on Hill St?

What do you do for a living bio?

Arena Central and Paradise Circus are kind of linked (as is Broad St tower). Paradise is linked to the library. Martineau may lead to the demise of the Odeon, and Odeon is next to New St and would surely form part of the New St plans? And a new New St would hopefully see us get rid of Stephenson Tower and even that brown thing on Hill St?
Ah, you make it all sound so simple.
But it is a good point: not one of these projects will change the face of Birmingham, it's a combination of them. Which means that we shouldn't get depressed if one project fails.
Although I must admit one exception to this is New St. We must have New St redeveloped and before 2012. I'm tempted to get out my hammer and chisel and go help knock the damn thing down.

Yeah I help you, be quicker to blow it up though ;) x

What do you do for a living bio?

Well, I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you.... :laugh:

I work in the construction industry, and I maintain pretty close links with architects and developers.

I won't say too much as walls have ears and all that ;)

How about you?

Nothing exciting. Ntohing to do with buildings or owt either. I'm a crap, cheap computer geek. :)

Ah, you make it all sound so simple.
But it is a good point: not one of these projects will change the face of Birmingham, it's a combination of them. Which means that we shouldn't get depressed if one project fails.
Although I must admit one exception to this is New St. We must have New St redeveloped and before 2012. I'm tempted to get out my hammer and chisel and go help knock the damn thing down.

Whilst I had a quiet moment at work yesterday (i.e. bored) I entertained myself by marking up an aerial shot of Birmingham City Centre with all the developments in progress or planned. Unfortunately I haven't got webhosting so I can't upload, but it is quite heartening to see - try it sometime! From Edgbaston and Five Ways Shopping Centres in the west to Tate Tower and Curzon Gateway in the east, and Jewellery Box in the north to Park Central Tower in the south, and New St Station, Mailbox Cube, Arena Central, Library (wherever it is), Masshouse, Law Courts, Orion and more in between! Hurrah for Brum!!

Also, have you seen the slating the idea of a split-site library has received in the Birmingham Post today?? I hope Mr Whitby reads it! Maybe he will see just how much we dislike the concept (or is it that we love the Rogers' design...)

I am doubtful that we will get New St done for 2012 - there is a lot of work to be done, and they have to keep the station open whilst work goes on. It will be at least 18 months before they are even close to starting on-site I would say, and a good few years to complete the project. And of course, whilst we may try to get New St completed in time for the Olympics, London will be trying to get the Olympic Village completed in time for the Olympics! Manpower might be a problem!

That said, you never know! We've just got to find £150 million! Turn out your pockets everyone!

Nothing exciting. Ntohing to do with buildings or owt either. I'm a crap, cheap computer geek. :)

That's not very nice! I am sure you are a very good, pricey technology expert :)

Is your profession why you have a series of numbers in your signature? That's intrigued me for a while... you've changed them recently haven't you?

That's not very nice! I am sure you are a very good, pricey technology expert :)

Hehe, nah, I'm crap but I'm cheap :)


Is your profession why you have a series of numbers in your signature? That's intrigued me for a while... you've changed them recently haven't you?

Afraid the numbers were just a quick smashing of the number pad on the keyboard when I couldn't think of a signature. No mystery involved ;)

Property investment 'slow down' Jul 21 2005
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By Steve Pain, Commercial Property Editor


Net investment levels into property are slowing down, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.

They show a significant net disinvestment in real estate in the first quarter of 2005, with disinvestment by insurance companies, pension funds and trusts of £1.2 billion.

More significantly, the figures also show a large revision to data for the fourth quarter of 2004, from disinvestment of £1.2 billion to net investment of £238 million.

Jonathan Wallis, head of investment at Jones Lang LaSalle’s Birmingham office, said: “While some property companies have taken the view over the past six months that their assets were at the top of the market and decided to sell, these deals don’t provide any indication of a disinvestment trend.

“Sales by property companies represent 29 per cent of all investment sales in Birmingham over the past six months, but this is merely money moving around within the sector.”

Pointing to a lack of properties in Birmingham as the reason behind the lower property investment figures, he added: “In our experience, the downturn in investment in Birmingham is due to the lack of suitable investment stock available to investment institutions.

“During the first half of the year, there has only been one significant office investment transaction in the city, the sale of Priory and Temple Court for a reported £121 million in March. If you compare that with the nine separate transactions and £ 264 million invested during the same period last year, it is easy to see that investors are crying out for more commercial opportunities in Birmingham.”

Mr Wallis believes that the difficulties are set to continue, with few opportunities forthcoming for the second half of the year.

He said: “While Rutland House on Church Street is currently being marketed with a £17 million price tag and 134 Edmund Street is reportedly under offer to Royal London for around £37 million, there are precious few investment opportunities out there to attract interest in the city.”

Meanwhile, Jones Lang LaSalle has let a 3,500 sq ft unit at the Royal Priors Shopping Centre in Leamington Spa to clothing retailer Bank, on behalf of Morley Fund Management.

The 152,000 sq ft Royal Priors centre houses 65 units in total, all of which are now fully let. Bank will be operating within a 15 year FRI (full repairing and insuring) lease, expiring in 2020 with five yearly upward only rent reviews.

Paul Garry, associate director at Jones Lang, said: “Bank has a strong presence in the Midlands market with two stores in Bullring and approximately 30 more nationwide.

“The company traditionally trades in major retailing centres such as Trafford Centre, Manchester, Cribbs Causeway Bristol and West Quay Southampton, so its move to Leamington Spa and the Royal Priors shopping centre is a significant one.

“It fills a much needed gap in customer demand and further establishes the centre as a leading shopping location in the Midlands.”

Wareing and Company are joint agents on the scheme.

Also, have you seen the slating the idea of a split-site library has received in the Birmingham Post today?? I hope Mr Whitby reads it! Maybe he will see just how much we dislike the concept (or is it that we love the Rogers' design...)

yeah it's brilliant isn't it and the first letter's mine :)

Any chance of posting any of that info on here?

yeah it's brilliant isn't it and the first letter's mine :)

Nice. The split library scheme is complete rubbish, short sighted, and smacks of stupidity!

In our experience, the downturn in investment in Birmingham is due to the lack of suitable investment stock available to investment institutions.

thats what ive been saying!!!!!!